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Posted May 23, 2011 11:29 pm - Updated May 23, 2011 11:29 pm

Learning how to Kayak fish Vol. 1: Time to gain some respect

This August will mark the seventh anniversary of my arrival in the Sunshine State. That may not seem like a lot, but it feels like a lifetime to me. Perhaps that’s because I’ve only been alive for 25 years. So, really, I’ve been here for nearly a third of my time on Earth.

What amazes me is how no matter what I do, or how long I stick around, nobody is willing to accept I can hang in the South.

“You’re going to mow the lawn, Danny? You do know you need to put gas in it?”

“You own a pool? Make sure you add chlorine.”

“Power washing? Cleaning the gutters? Maybe you should hire somebody and watch how they do it first.”

I’m sick of this. Just because I’m from New York City doesn’t mean I’m allergic to the outdoors. I get it people, but I think I’ve had enough.

About three weeks ago, I decided it was time to fight back. There’s only so much a chubby kid from Brooklyn can take.

I bought a kayak, a fishing pole and a bunch of stuff that I probably don’t need. It was time for me to join the ranks.

Now, I’ve never caught a fish. Ever. I’ve been on two charter boats and sat on a dock a few times in my life. Each time I’ve gone home emptyhanded. Who cares?

Have I ever kayaked before? No. Canoed? Nope. I’ve been in a raft maybe four times and sat in a rowboat with a deaf man once. That’s about it.

Every other week or so, I plan to write in this blog and update on how things are going. Hopefully this can turn into a bit of a forum for people who enjoy this hobby and want to share tips, stories and reports.

For now, I’m pretty much just going to bring you along as I embarrass myself, which is still better than doing nothing at all.

To sum up how things have gone so far, I’ve been out four times. I bought a one-person, 10-foot angler kayak. It has two rod holders (one on each side) and is a sit-inside model. That’s about all I know.

I have a small tackle box, an Ugly Stick fishing rod, and a life jacket with about 280 pockets.

The guy at the Bait Bucket, which is next to Food Lion on U.S. 1, has been nice enough to help me out without making me feel too stupid. He tells me what kind of bait to use and helped set up all of my tackle.

So here’s what I’ve learned so far.

Unless you’re just looking to mess around, don’t go to Anastasia State Park. I went there the first time and felt ridiculous in all of my gear.

They rent kayaks there, so most of the people are just paddling around and having a good time.

There were kids jumping off kayaks and people windsurfing.

Needless to say, I felt out of place. It seemed like people were watching me and expecting something awesome to happen.

Never again, was all I could tell myself. It’s a cool place, but not if it’s a Saturday and you’re trying to do anything serious.

The other three times I’ve gone out in Moultrie Creek off the ramp on Shore Drive in St. Augustine South. That’s been much nicer. It’s taken me a while to figure out how to put everything I’m carrying in a spot where I can reach it.

A lot of the time I’ve spent has been on getting comfortable and figuring out where to go. Also, trying to fight through stinging pain in my arms and shoulders, which I hope will go away one day.

The last two times I’ve gone out have been at low tide. That’s not ideal, not for me at least.

On Saturday, I felt like I was paddling through 2 feet of mud and steam. The lack of water made it feel like it was 200 degrees outside. It was also hard to find anywhere to cast that wasn’t filled with stuff that would break my line.

I know a lot of people like low tide, but I prefer high. The fish are easier to spot throughout the creek, and it’s just nicer. I haven’t caught anything yet, but I’m not discouraged. For the most part, I understand why. I really have been more concerned with getting things straight than being patient. I’m getting close though.

Figuring how to hook a live mud minnow wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t that hard either. See, people, there’s a solution to being useless. It’s called learning. I don’t know why everyone thinks I’m incapable of this.

In the future, I’ll give more detailed accounts of everything. Just consider this an introduction. And feel free to talk about any experiences you’ve had recently and offer any advice someone like me could use.

Let’s get this thing started. Along the way, maybe I’ll turn into something I never thought possible: A Floridian.